SIXTH-FORM and degree level business students at Petroc College in Tiverton took part in a branding workshop this week.

Tiverton marketing communications agency The Oxygen Agency organised the event and students were taught about the influence of marketing and the importance of a brand.

Oxygen managing director Steve Lodge talked to more than 30 students about the processes involved in creating a brand identity, using case studies of famous global brands such as Coca-Cola and Reebok.

He then ran a workshop in which students came up with a new brand proposition and set of brand values for a national radio station.

He said: “Understanding how brands work is absolutely vital to understanding good business.

“It was inspiring to hear fresh perspectives from the students at Petroc and it means a lot to Oxygen to support the next generation of marketing and business talent.”

Feedback was positive, with students saying it was “good to understand the influence marketing and a brand can have on the success of a business” and that the workshop “made me think about the different areas of marketing in a reallife context.”

Petroc business studies lecturer Zoey Arthurs said: “Students at Petroc gain a great deal from spending time with industry experts like Steve. The branding workshop was well-attended and made a valuable contribution to the students’ understanding of brands and business.”